Freeport East and Assan Panel meet Freeports Minister to mark progress on new factory and expansion of trade opportunities

• 6 months until new Assan Panel factory opens at Gateway 14 in Stowmarket bringing new competition and capacity into advanced building materials sector in the UK
• Strong progress underscores government support for green infrastructure, Advanced Manufacturing and innovation-driven job creation in the East of England
• Industrial Strategy further positions Freeport East for new international investment in high priority sectors, including Clean Energy Industries, Digital & Technology and Advanced Manufacturing
• Embassy of Türkiye highlights growing bilateral trade between UK and Türkiye

Minister for Freeports, Alex Norris MP met last week with senior representatives of Assan Panel and Freeport East together with Mr Koray Ertaş, the Turkish Ambassador to the UK, to mark progress on their new factory construction and discuss further opportunities to strengthen bilateral trade.

The meeting reviewed progress with the new Assan Panel Advanced Manufacturing plant at Gateway 14 in Stowmarket, Suffolk, as well as discussing wider developments and opportunities across the Freeport East region.

The new factory represents a £45 million investment that will deliver a new 87,000 sq. ft. high-performance facility and create around 100 highly skilled jobs. This major international investment by one of Turkey’s leading industrial groups will boost the UK’s capacity to produce advanced, high-quality panel systems and strengthen export capabilities, with the site’s proximity to the Port of Felixstowe being a key strategic advantage.

Following the launch of the Government’s Solar Roadmap, and commitment in the Industrial Strategy for an Advanced Connections Service to support Industrial Strategy Zones, Freeport East and the Minister also discussed opportunities to deliver further clean energy and manufacturing investments supported by an expansion of the local energy grid.

Minister for Building Safety, Fire and Local Growth, Alex Norris, said:

“We are committed to driving growth in our communities and across the UK through our Plan for Change. Freeports have a crucial role to play in that mission.

“The Assan Panel factory in Suffolk is a great example of the investment freeports can attract, in this case supporting both the advanced manufacturing and clean energy sectors.

“It was exciting to meet with representatives and the Turkish ambassador as the project nears completion.”

Steve Beel, Chief Executive of Freeport East, stated:

“Assan Panel demonstrate the great potential for the UK’s Freeports to attract significant new international investments that will provide more competition and choice for UK businesses and consumers, whilst also strengthening our export performance.

With the UK’s largest container port in Felixstowe on our doorstep and strong commitments to supporting sustainable business and clean energy, Freeport East and the East of England offer unique prospects for ambitious international investors that also deliver high quality jobs and wider supply chain benefits for local businesses.”

Mr. Ihsan Tolga Akar, Managing Director of Assan Panel, who led the delegation to meet the Minister, said:

“This investment in the region are part of the company’s sustainability-oriented growth strategy. As Assan Panel, operating under the roof of Kibar Holding, we have been carrying our manufacturing capabilities to the world for years. This facility is only the second mineral wool core panel production plant, and has the ability to produce low lambda, small CO2 footprint, fire resistant PIR core (SmartCore) composite panels in the UK.

Thanks to our new facility, which will provide us with a strategic advantage with its location close to the European market, we believe that we will reach an even stronger position in the European market with our certified product quality and customer-oriented production approach. Our new facility will also contribute to Kibar Holding’s international growth vision.”

Mr Koray Ertaş, Turkish Ambassador to the UK, said:

“Trade between the UK and Türkiye is on an upwards trajectory as symbolised by ongoing FTA discussions between our two countries.  It was a pleasure to meet with Minister Norris to mark the progress of this significant new investment from Türkiye into the UK and look forward to the positive impact it will have on economic relations in the future”

For more information on Assan Panel, Gateway 14 or to discuss inward investment opportunities please email enquiries@freeporteast.co.uk.